Paddle a canoe or pick the perfect pumpkin: Five ways to enjoy Ohio's peak fall color

The annual fall color
crescendo is expected to reach its peak over the next week in northern Ohio, and
in southern Ohio a week later, according to the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources.

So if you've been patiently
anticipating Mother Nature's maximum color saturation, your wait is almost over.

It's time to get busy. But
busy doing what?

Well, we've got some ideas.

Zip-lining: See the trees from above

Sure, you can admire the
trees by walking underneath them. But here's another possibility: Fly above
them.

Tracking fall color

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources continues to track fall color progression throughout the state. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, color watchers reported "peak" color at Punderson State Park in Geauga County and "near peak" color almost everywhere else. For weekly color reports, as well as more ideas on how to enjoy fall, see fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov

The number of zip-line
courses in Ohio has exploded since 2008, when the state's first, Hocking Hills Canopy
Tours, opened near Rockbridge. Today the state is home to a dozen courses, with
at least one in every region of Ohio.

The concept is essentially
the same at all of them: Climb into a harness, clip yourself to a steel cable,
step off a platform – and off you go (assisted by professional guides, of
course).

But each course has something
a little different to offer, too: You can zip-line atop endangered animals (at
the Wilds), over the Little Miami Scenic River (at Camp Kern), and in the
darkness of night (at several – but then you wouldn't get to see the pretty
leaves).

Tree Frog Canopy Tours, just
south of Loudonville, is the closest course to Cleveland, about 90 miles
southwest, with seven zip lines, two tree rappels and two skybridges.

Wherever you decide to go,
keep this in mind: If you plan to enjoy the fall color, you'll need to keep
your eyes open.

The Grand River in Ashtabula
County is another scenic choice for fall paddlers. For rental information: grandrivercanoe.com

Hiking: Nothing beats a walk in the woods

For fall color purists,
there's nothing better than a great hike. And there's no greater place to hike
than the trails that cut through Southeast Ohio's Hocking Hills.

Here's the problem: the
state's top-visited state park sees its biggest crowds in October, with up to 1
million visitors vying for a rare quiet moment at Ash Cave or an unpopulated
photo at Cedar Falls.

Even so, he offers these tips
for beating the crowds: Visit during the week, when the trails are much
quieter. And check out some of the park's more far-flung regions, including
Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs, both more than a dozen miles north of the main
park area.

Cantwell Cliffs, in
particular, is stunning in fall – with a rim trail that offers gorgeous views
of the changing trees below. "There's a real combination of habitats here,"
said Quackenbush, which yields a variety of plant species – birches and
hemlocks mixed with maples and oaks. "The more species of trees, the more
colors you'll have," he said.

One last piece of advice: The
Hocking Hills Dining Lodge is under new management and has a new menu crafted
by chef Matt Rapposelli, who also oversees the kitchen at nearby Lake Hope
Lodge. Early reviews have been excellent. Information: hockinglodge.com

Driving: Don't forget to keep your eyes on the
road

Sometimes the best views
don't even require getting out of the car. For a beautiful drive in southeast
Ohio, Quackenbush recommends Ohio 78 in Morgan County, through the Wayne
National Forest and Burr Oak State Park. "You are way up in the air on the
roadway," said Quackenbush.

But one caution: "You really
need a designated driver," he said. "The driver needs to pay attention."

Closer to Cleveland, the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources has several recommendations for scenic drives,
including Ohio 39 from Sugarcreek to Loudonville in Holmes and Ashland
counties; Ohio 212 from Bolivar to Atwood Lake in Tuscarawas and Carroll counties;
and Ohio 87 (Kinsman Road) from Burton to just past Ohio 11 in Geauga County.

Ramseyer Farms in Wooster has
two mazes to get lost inside – one in the shape of Ohio (with highways, rivers
and state trivia along the route), the other ... a mystery. Try one, or both, then
check out the straw bale obstacle course, feed the farm animals and take a hayride.
Information: ramseyerfarms.com

Maize Valley in Hartville has
a pumpkin canon, pumpkin patch, pig races, wagon rides and an eight-acre corn
maze in the shape of a locomotive. Information: maizevalleywinery.com

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